Plug and receptacle connection for optical fiber cables

Abstract

A closure wall ( 30 ) is pivotally connected to a pair of opposite sidewalls ( 48, 50 ) by pivot pins ( 68 ) carried by the closure wall bracket ( 38 ) and pivot pin receiving openings ( 74 ) in the sidewalls ( 48, 50 ). The pivot pins ( 68 ) are connected to the closure wall ( 38 ) by pivot pin supporting arms ( 62, 64 ). These arms ( 62, 64 ) are connected to side portions ( 56, 58 ) of the closure wall ( 38 ) adjacent open ends of splits ( 40, 42 ) that separate the side portions ( 56, 58 ) from the central portion ( 60 ). The pivot pins ( 68 ) and pivot pin receiving openings ( 74 ) are offset from end surfaces ( 78, 80, 82, 84 ) on the socket sidewalls ( 48, 50, 70, 72 ) the distance x. They are also offset from the outer surface of the sidewall ( 72 ). Sidewall ( 72 ) intersects end wall ( 82 ) at a line (L).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A receptacle for a plug on an end of an optical fiber cable, comprising: 
       four sidewalls together forming a plug receiving socket having an open end through which a plug enters and leaves the socket;  
       said four sidewalls including first and second opposite sidewalls, third and fourth opposite sidewalls that are perpendicular to the first and second sidewalls, and end surfaces on said sidewalls at the open end of the socket;  
       said fourth sidewall having an outer surface;  
       said first and second sidewalls including coaxial, pivot pin receiving openings that extend through them near their end surfaces, and near the fourth sidewall, said pivot pin receiving openings having axes that are axially inwardly from the end surfaces of the first and second sidewalls a distance x and are laterally inwardly of the outer surface of the fourth sidewall a distance y;  
       wherein the end surface on said fourth sidewall intersects the outer surface of the fourth sidewall along an intersection line L that is parallel to the axes of the pivot pin receiving openings;  
       wherein the line L is spaced from the axes of the pivot pin receiving openings a distance z that is greater than the distance x and greater than the distance y;  
       a closure wall for the open end of the socket having a pair of pivot pin support arms projecting from it and a laterally inwardly projecting pivot pin on each said support arms, sized and positioned to be received within said pivot pin receiving openings; and  
       said support arms being of a length that places the pivot pin axes away from the inner surface of the closure wall a distance that is substantially equal to or greater than the distance x, and substantially equal to or greater than the distance y, and smaller than the distance z,  
       whereby the closure wall, in a closed position, extends across the open end of the socket and its inner surface substantially contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls, and when it is in an open position, its inside surface substantially contacts the outer surface of the fourth sidewall, and wherein the support arms for the pivot pins are mounted to allow movement of the closure member from its open position to its closed position and from its closed position to its open position.  
     
     
       2. The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the closure wall comprises a central portion and opposite side portions that are separated from the central portion by splits that are parallel to the first and second sidewalls; wherein the splits have open ends that are adjacent the end surface of the third sidewall when the closure wall is in its closed position, and closed ends that are adjacent the end surface of the fourth wall, wherein the support arms for the pivot pins are connected to the side portions of the closure wall adjacent the open ends of the splits, laterally outwardly of the splits, and wherein rotation of the closure wall between its open and closed positions will cause flexing of the central portion of the closure wall relative to the side portions, so as to allow the closure wall to slide over and around the intersection line L as the closure wall is moved from one of its positions to the other. 
     
     
       3. The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein with the end surfaces of the four sidewalls substantially lie in a common plane that is perpendicular to the outer surface of the fourth sidewall, and wherein in the closure wall, in its open position, extends at an angle to said plane that is greater than ninety degrees. 
     
     
       4. The receptacle of  claim 3  wherein the closure wall contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls when the closure wall is in its closed position, and this contact and the length of the support arms holds the closure wall in a closed position wherein it will stay until forcibly swung from its closed position to its open position. 
     
     
       5. The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the closure wall contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls when the closure wall is in its closed position, and this contact and the length of the support arms holds the closure wall in a closed position wherein it will stay until forcibly swung from its closed position to its open position. 
     
     
       6. The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the closure wall, including the pivot pin support arms and the pivot pins, is formed from a structural plastic material. 
     
     
       7. The receptacle of  claim 6 , wherein with the end surfaces of the four sidewalls substantially lie in a common plane that is perpendicular to the outer surface of the fourth sidewall, and wherein the closure wall, in its open position, extends at an angle to said plane that is greater than ninety degrees. 
     
     
       8. The receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the closure wall contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls when the closure wall is in its closed position, and this contact and the length of the support arms holds the closure wall in a closed position wherein it will stay until forcibly swung from its closed position to its open position. 
     
     
       9. The receptacle of  claim 6 , wherein the closure wall contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls when the closure wall is in its closed position, and this contact and the length of the support arms holds the closure wall in a closed position wherein it will stay until forcibly swung from its closed position to its open position. 
     
     
       10. A receptacle on a first optical cable for receiving a plug on an end of a second optical fiber cable, comprising: 
       a base supporting an end portion of the first optical cable;  
       four sidewalls together forming a plug receiving socket having a first end connected to said base and an open second end through which a said plug enters and leaves the socket;  
       said base supporting said first optical cable with its end spaced from and directed outwardly towards the open end of the socket;  
       said four sidewalls including first and second opposite sidewalls, third and fourth opposite sidewalls that are perpendicular to the first and second sidewalls, and end surfaces on said sidewalls at the open end of the socket;  
       said fourth sidewall having an outer surface;  
       said first and second sidewalls including coaxial, pivot pin receiving openings that extend through them near their end surfaces, and near the fourth sidewall, said pivot pin receiving openings having axes that are axially inwardly from the end surfaces of the first and second sidewalls a distance x and are laterally inwardly of the outer surface of the fourth sidewall a distance y;  
       wherein the end surface on said fourth sidewall intersects the outer surface of the fourth sidewall along an intersecting line L that is parallel to the axes of the pivot pin receiving openings;  
       wherein the line L is spaced from the axes of the pivot pin receiving openings a distance z that is greater than the distance x and greater than the distance y;  
       a closure wall for the open end of the socket having a pair of pivot pin support arms projecting from it and a laterally inwardly projecting pivot pin on each said support arms, sized and positioned to be received within said pivot pin receiving openings; and  
       said support arms being of a length that places the pivot pin axes away from the inner surface of the closure wall a distance that is substantially equal to or greater than the distance x, and substantially equal to or greater than the distance y, and smaller than the distance z,  
       whereby the closure wall, in a closed position, extends across the open end of the socket and its inner surface substantially contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls, and when it is in an open position, its inside surface substantially contacts the outer surface of the fourth sidewall, and wherein the support arms for the pivot pins are movable to allow movement of the closure member from its open position to its closed position and from its closed position to its open position.  
     
     
       11. The receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the closure wall comprises a central portion and opposite side portions that are separated from the central portion by splits that are parallel to the first and second sidewalls; wherein the splits have open ends that are adjacent the end surface of the third sidewall when the closure wall is in its closed position, and closed ends that are adjacent the end surface of the fourth wall, wherein the support arms for the pivot pins are connected to the side portions of the closure wall adjacent the open ends of the splits, laterally outwardly of the splits, and wherein rotation of the closure wall between its open and closed positions will cause flexing of the central portion of the closure wall relative to the side portions to allow the closure wall to slide over and around the intersection line L as the closure wall is moved from one of its positions to the other. 
     
     
       12. The receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein with the end surfaces of the four sidewalls substantially lie in a common plane that is perpendicular to the outer surface of the fourth sidewall, and wherein the closure wall, in its open position, extends at an angle to said plane that is greater than ninety degrees. 
     
     
       13. The receptacle of  claim 12 , wherein the closure wall contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls when the closure wall is in its closed position, and this contact and the length of the support arms holds the closure wall in a closed position wherein it will stay until forcibly swung from its closed position to its open position. 
     
     
       14. The receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the closure wall contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls when the closure wall is in its closed position, and this contact and the length of the support arms holds the closure wall in a closed position wherein it will stay until forcibly swung from its closed position to its open position. 
     
     
       15. The receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the closure wall, including the pivot pin support arms and the pivot pins, is formed from a structural plastic material. 
     
     
       16. The receptacle of  claim 15 , wherein with the end surfaces of the four sidewalls substantially lie in a common plane that is perpendicular to the outer surface of the fourth sidewall, and wherein the closure wall, in its open position, extends at an angle to said plane that is greater than ninety degrees. 
     
     
       17. The receptacle of  claim 16 , wherein the closure wall contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls when the closure wall is in its closed position, and this contact and the length of the support arms holds the closure wall in a closed position wherein it will stay until forcibly swung from its closed position to its open position. 
     
     
       18. The receptacle of  claim 15 , wherein the closure wall contacts the end surfaces of at least two of the sidewalls when the closure wall is in its closed position, and this contact and the length of the support arms holds the closure wall in a closed position wherein it will stay until forcibly swung from its closed position to its open position. 
     
     
       19. The receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein an inside portion of the closure wall has an array of reflecting surfaces positioned to reflect substantially obliquely outwardly any light energy that may be emitted from the first optical cable towards the closure wall when the closure wall is closed, so that said light energy will not be reflected back on itself. 
     
     
       20. The receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the closure wall is constructed from a material cable of transmitting some light energy and a layer of a light blocking material is provided on the outer surface of the closure wall, to substantially prevent light energy transmission through the closure wall.